[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WQDdxrJpC0[/youtube]

Since June 10, the region of Catatumbo in the department of Norte de Santander has been consumed by protests and riots that have left four protesters dead and over fifty injured.

More than 12,000 peasant farmers have participated in the protests, reported La Prensa Latina, demanding the government halt coca eradication until they can provide an economically viable alternative, and also calling for more investment in public infrastructure and services and for the region to be made a semi-autonomous “rural reserve zone.”

The riot police dispatched to the area to control the protests have received widespread criticism for their heavy-handed response, including accusations that they have fired indiscriminately on crowds.

The government initially refused to address the protesters demands, but backtracked earlier this week and began talks with community representatives on June 25.